The effectiveness of health screening

Arbeitspapier

Using a matched insurant-general practitioner panel data set, we estimated the effect of a general health-screening program on individuals' health status and health care cost. To account for selection into treatment, we used regional variations in the intensity of exposure to supply-determined screening recommendations as an instrumental variable. We found that screening participation substantially increased inpatient and outpatient health care costs for up to two years after treatment. In the medium term, we found cost savings in the outpatient sector, whereas in the long run, no statistically significant effects of screening on either health care cost component could be discerned. In summary, screening participation increases health care costs. Since we did not find any statistically significant effect of screening participation on insurants' health status at any point in time, we do not recommend a general health-screening program. However, given that we found some evidence for cost-saving potentials for the sub-sample of younger insurants, we suggest more targeted screening programs.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: IZA Discussion Papers ; No. 6310

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; Health: General ; Health: Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
• Subject: health screening ; health care costs ; sick leave ; mortality ; Gesundheitsvorsorge ; Wirkungsanalyse ; Gesundheit ; Gesundheitskosten ; Erwerbsunfähigkeit ; Schätzung ; Österreich

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Hackl, Franz ; Halla, Martin ; Hummer, Michael ; Pruckner, Gerald J.
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA)
• (where): Bonn
• (when): 2012

Further information

• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/58791
• URN: urn:nbn:de:101:1-201204239833
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:44 AM CET